It turns out that children with cancer are just the most vivid symbol of a wider policy that will also deny food and drink to people stuck on ER hallways

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This is as low as a government can go to save money in the health system.

Children in outpatient cancer care were no longer to get a popsicle, juice box, ginger ale or other treat after their gruelling procedures.

Amanda Moppett-Beatch learned this last Friday at the Children’s Hospital, after her 11-year-old son, Easton, had his latest treatment for brain cancer.

This boy and his family have endured a two-year agony of surgeries, treatments, brief remission, relapse and now more chemotherapy.

That looming denial of a simple treat nearly broke Easton’s mom.

“If I wasn’t so exhausted from all this I’d be infuriated,” she said in a Facebook post now widely circulated.

“Instead, I’m sad.”

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So apparently Alberta Health Services has just informed the Oncology Clinic (and other ‘ambulatory’ or non-admitted for...

In an interview Monday, Moppet-Beatch said: “I hear first-hand the kids screaming and crying, not wanting to get that needle poke, and then you’ll see them come out an hour later and they’ll have that popsicle — that colourful, sweet piece of joy.”

Easton gets a lumbar puncture with chemo once a month. Afterward, he must drink something before an IV connector can be removed.

Now, the system would not spare another ginger ale for a child who has been through medical hell.

As the story began to break Monday, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange backpedaled in the face of furious reaction from parents.

She said that was not the intent of the new policy. Children will still get what they need. The information is “incorrect or being misrepresented.”

In a way........

© Edmonton Journal